Lovers of Cheddar and Gouda May Have Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

If you like cheese, there may be cause for celebration. According to a new study, eating cheese may lower your risk for type 2 diabetes

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that people who reported being cheese eaters had a 12 percent lower risk of type 2 than those who weren’t cheese fans. Additionally, the participants who ate more cheese, fermented milk, and yogurt had a lower diabetes risk than those who ate less of them. The study, which included over 340,000 people, compiled data from eight European countries. The researchers compared the diets of over 12,000 people who went on to have diabetes with over 16,000 people also in the study but chosen at random.

Interestingly, the study found that the effect of cheese-eating on diabetes may differ from one country to another. For example, French cheese-eaters had a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, but cheese-eaters in the United Kingdom had a higher risk of the disease.

The study did not take into account whether the cheese or dairy products eaten by the participants were low or full fat, and the researchers did not explain how eating cheese could lower the risk of diabetes.

Before rushing off to load up on your favorite cheese, a few words of caution: Cheese is high in both calories and saturated fat. Furthermore, the study showed only a link between consuming cheese and diabetes risk, not a cause-and-effect relationship. For now, it’s smart to stick to eating lots of fruits and vegetables.

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